An Interview with Executive Director Amy Horton

Amy Horton

Creative Engagement Coordinator Ashley Caveda recently had the opportunity to interview our brand-new executive director, Amy Horton. Here is that interview:

ASHLEY CAVEDA: Will you share a little bit about your background and your career? 

AMY HORTON: After law school, I started my career on Capitol Hill. Growing up, I loved law and public policy. I went to Homestead High School in Ft. Wayne, and I was blessed with the opportunity after my junior year to serve as a page for then-Congressman Dan Coats in the U.S. House of Representatives. I loved hearing debates on the House floor, watching the legislative process, and finding my way through the tunnels to deliver flags flown over the U.S. Capitol. Returning to work on the Hill seemed like a natural fit. My formative work years were as a legislative assistant, covering a wide range of issues, finessing policy arguments, drafting legislation and responses to constituent letters, and gaining proficiency in the legislative process. I later became a professional staff member on a subcommittee, where I focused on the work of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. Through that work, I was able to research and highlight the meaningful impact that grassroots faith-based organizations have in neighborhoods across the country—especially those in Indiana!

Later in my federal career, I was able to support grassroots community impact in an international development context. Largely due to the influence of my father (who has practiced law for over 50 years in Ft. Wayne), I opted for law school over service as a Peace Corps volunteer right after college. But my love for international development—Peace Corps-style—never passed, so, when a neighbor mentioned an opening at Peace Corps headquarters in Washington, D.C., I applied. My final federal role was leading the office that provided programming and training support to volunteers and staff at posts around the world. If my health holds, I still aspire to serve as a Peace Corps volunteer in a country where I can resuscitate my Spanish language skills. 

My husband, daughter, and I relocated to Indianapolis in 2009 and we are grateful to have been closer to my parents and extended family the past decade. 

AC: What made you decide to apply for the position of executive director at Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic?

AH: In the fall of 2019, I found myself at an inflection point caused by the providential convergence of two key things. The first was the realization that, a year from then, my husband and I would be empty nesters. The second was a sermon series at my church, Northview. Thinking about what I would do with my “spare time” once our daughter was in college opened my mind to reflect on the career behind me and the one I could choose ahead of me. Pastor Steve Poe’s sermons opened my heart to Kingdom work as my future career path. I began looking for local Christian organizations where I could fulfill the Great Commission through service to others. The Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic appeared on my screen, and once I read the Mission, I knew the Clinic was where I wanted to be. Micah 6:8 resonated deeply within me. I prayed, applied, and prayed again that God would assign me to the Clinic if it was His will.   

Before I interviewed, I read that a sermon given to the congregation at Tabernacle Presbyterian Church started the Clinic. It seems a God thing to me that a sermon at Northview Church about 25 years later then led me to the Clinic.

AC: It must be strange starting such a big position at this time—how have your first weeks of working remotely been? Has anything in particular stood out to you?

AH: Throwing myself into learning the Clinic’s work, connecting with community partners, and getting to know the board and the staff team have distracted me from the COVID-19 churn, and I appreciate the distraction. Beyond myself, my prayer is that focusing so intently on the work of the Clinic now will enable me to work alongside everyone on the team better in the future. Together, I know we can continue to provide legal representation and education when our neighbors need us most, especially as the full implications of COVID-19 are revealed over time.

AC: How is your family coping with the pandemic?

AH: We are doing well. We’re all healthy, and we’ve adapted into a new routine. We’ve staked out our different areas of the house and we are trying to be respectful of each other’s schedules. Our daughter, Grace, is a high school senior this year. Her academic requirements are now behind her, so she is settling into a more leisurely pace at home. In contrast, my husband, Tony, and I are busier than ever with work.

We relax through walking, lifting weights, and running. Tony covers the running and lifting, while Grace I do an awesome job with the walking. With our extended family (from Florida to Michigan, Seattle to Arlington, VA), we are video conferencing over meals, having Harry Potter viewing parties, and doing virtual birthday and graduation celebrations. It’s not qualitatively the same as in-person gatherings, but quantitatively we’re doing pretty well—we are seeing each other more frequently.

AC: What is your hope for the future of the Clinic and what would you like to accomplish in this role?

AH: My hope for the Clinic is that we can provide greater access to legal representation and education to our neighbors in Indianapolis and in Ft. Wayne, as well as in communities across the state. Like many organizations, we’ve been experimenting with technology during social distancing. This has prompted discussions about how we can extend our reach through technology in the longer term. 

For example, as a result of COVID-19, the Clinic has launched a new educational series called “Talk to an Attorney Tuesdays,” which airs through our Facebook Live every Tuesday at 5:00 PM, with another livestream called “Talk to an Immigration Attorney” taking place every Thursday at 5:00 PM. These are times when people can watch and ask an attorney questions and then receive general legal information (not legal advice) about important issues. This series is attracting viewers, shares, and friends in numbers beyond our expectations. Our immigration livestream from last Thursday is already at 1600 views and our livestream on unemployment benefits from last Tuesday is at 1200 views. This is an excellent way for us to continue to get important and accurate legal information to as many people as possible. We’re also exploring new partnerships with the intent of providing legal aid in new ways to reach more people.

AC: How does your faith inform your work?

AH: As I walk more closely with God, I rely more heavily on the Holy Spirit. I seek His help routinely, listening closely for His whispers and waiting for His nudges. His in-dwelling provides me with peace and confidence I wouldn’t be able to muster on my own. 

AC: Go-to Bible verse right now? 

AH: For the past few months, Psalm 46:10 has been top of mind: “Be still and know that I am God.”

AC: Favorite books/TV shows?

AH: My TV show favorites are an odd mix: Outlander, Downton Abbey, The Walking Dead, The Office, and The Curse of Oak Island. Well, I guess all but one have a link to the UK.

AC: What message do you have for our followers and everyone at this time?

AH: Our doors may be closed, but our phone lines and online channels are open. Team Justice has been serving our vulnerable neighbors for the past 25 years and, God-willing, we will continue to carry the mission forward in new ways for the next 25 years as well. Each day, I pray that I will honor God’s will in fulfilling the mission of the Clinic and building upon the great work of our staff team, our board, and the leaders that came before me: Abby Kuzma, Josh Abel, Chris Purnell, and Chase Haller.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. To learn more about the Clinic and how to access our services during this time, please visit our website.